Marine wall construction



24 1927. May J. P. BALL MARINE WALL CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 28.

Patented May 24,l 1927.

UNITED STATES JOHN r. BALL, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MARINE WALL CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed November 28, 1924. Serial No. 752,669.

My invention relatesto marine walls consisting of a. timber or pile foundation; the object otl the invention being to providesuch walls with' a concrete cap or coping; that is to say, my invention consists in providing the upper ends of the timbers, or the tops of the piles, with a concrete cap, the topI` whereof extends above the surface of the water, while the bottom of the coping is disposed beneath the-surface of normal -level of the water my improved construction being adaptable for jetties, wharves, piers, revetinentsy foundations, bulk-heads andthe like. y Y i One object of the invention is to provide pre-cast hollow concrete sections or cribs intended to be placed endto end; each sec- Ation or crib consisting of separately formed or pre-cast sides hingedly or yieldingly linked together at a suitable point intermediate of the top and the bottom ot' the sides, with each side being provided with a bottom forming leg' 0.1` portion adapted .to abut against the adjacent side of the timber or pile foundation beneath the top thereof; that is to say, the positioned sections and completed coping will grip the timber or pile foundation at a point beneath the surface of thewater and theretoreencase Aor house the exposed portion of the foundation or piles where decay takes place.

n rlhe objects and advantages of my invention will all be more fully comprehended from the detailed description of the accom-A panying drawing, which forms a part of my specification, and wherein Figure l is a sectional perspective View of a. portion of myk improved marine wallconstruction, partially filled in with mass concrete; the exposed upper ends of the piling and the exposed ends of the waling strips at the end. of the wall construction being shown in elevation (the other piles and remainder ot the wa-ling'strips being embedded in the concrete and therefore invisible) with port-ions of the foundation and mass concrete iilling being broken away. A

FigureQ is a plan view of a portion of my improved wall construction with the mass concrete in the coping units and between the two rows of piles and coping omitted as well as .the precastslab covering the mass concrete between the two rows being omitted.

Figure 3 is a vertical sect-ion of av modification, disclosing a hollow crib or cap shown applied to the upper end of a pile and provided with mass concrete filling.

Figure 4 is a transverse section of the modified form of myimproved concrete crib as applied to a single pile as shown in Figure 3, and filled in with mass concrete. i

My invention consists more especially in providing a suitable cap or coping, of precast concrete, for the upperH ends of the. piles and for the waling strips of breakwaters, bulk-headsV piers and ythe like, whether immediately or subsequently applied thereto. V

In the exemplification of the invention as disclosed in Figures l and 2,v a portion of the foundation ofa bulk-head or pier is shown at. These foundations usually consist oi ordinary rock filling employed in conjunction with the `piles ot'v the bulk-heads;

the piles being usually braced with waling strips and tie-rods intermediate of the fac-l ings or sides of the bulk-head or crib. The bulkheadsusually consist of rows of piles arranged in suitable spaced relation, with the upper ends of the piles terminating or cut away vto approximately normal' water level, or slightly above the water surface or level as' shown. The piles, ,after 4 being driven to a definite grade, are usually ysawed oft at the top to a desired extent after the piles have kbeen provided with and bound together by suitable waling strips either wood or metal, which are suitably secured to the respective piles bymeans of bolts and tie rods; the tie rods extending' from one rowl of piling to the other,

Vhere my invention is intended to. be applied to a previous-ly constructed bulk-'head or pier, ay port-ion of the top stoneof the foundation intermediate of the" two rows of piling, is first removedto permit the application ot' l,my precast hollow crib or coping.

My improved'hollow crib or coping4 6 l vcomprises precast concrete units Varranged in pairs; each unit. consisting oa side wall portion 7 having anv angularly disposed bottom forming portion 8. The units are cast toa predetermined size and. dimension to s-uit the particular type of piling and construction employed. Thetwo units constituting a crib, form one portion or section of a continuous coping, as disclosed in Figures 1 and 2 and the units of each crib are substantially identical in construction and configuration. These units are'intended to be placed on opposite sides of the same row of piling with the bottom portions 8 arranged in abutting relation with opposite sides ofthe piling 9 as shown very clearly in Figure 1; that is to say the bottom portions 8 of each unit engage Ywith the piling at a suitable point beneath the Waling strips 10. Each unit is preferably formed of reenforced concrete; the reenforcement, at least in certain portions thereof, comprising suitable metaln lic rods, which extend from the bottom portions 8 and are disposed vertically throughout the sides 7 and these rods, or at least some of them, are preferably bent upon themselves to form a loop or eye-portion 11 which extends or protrudes through the inner side or face of the side wall portion of the units. rfhe loops or ejf'e-portimis are preferably arranged at a point slightly beneath the horizontal axis or centers of the side portions of the unit.

The units, namely the two portions 6, constituting the crib or coping section, are put into position, after the foundation has been properly prepared therefor, by having the bottom portions 8 of each unit brought into abutting relation With opposite sides of the piles 9 at a point beneath the waliug strip 10. The units after being positioned as just described are then secured together by means of suitable hook-bolts 12 which engage With the loops or eyes of the reenforcing rods in the two units of the crib or coping. It Will be understood, of course, that instead of employing a bolt, as just stated, any suitable tie means may be used. After the units of the crib or coping have all been put into position as described, the coping is then preferably lledin with mass concrete, which may be reenforced if desired; the concrete being poured in through the open top of the crib or coping (the ends and joints being` suitably sealed beforehand) and caused to completely fill the crib on all sides of the piles as Well as beneath the Waling strip in order to thoroughly encase the tops of the piles and Waling strip as well as the tie means or bolts which engage with the loops or. eyes of the reenforcing rods previously described and the ends of the tie-rods which are secured to the piles or waling strips, so as to provide a homogenous structure therewith which completely encases the Wood structure of the bulk-head or pier and provides a continuous beam.

It is apparent that byhaving the yielding or hingedly connected tie means 12 disposed transversely beneath the horizontal axis or center of the sides of the crib that the bulk of the mass concrete or yfiller 1T introduced Will be above the tie'means so that the eX- pansion Will force the upper ends or top of the cribbing in an outward direction, thereby ensuring the bottom portions of both units to come into firm abutting relation with and to grip the piles; the filler 17 or concrete being disposed in the crevices between thefpiles and beneath the waling strips as u'ell as around the tie-rods or fastening elements and as a result cause the crib or coping to be firmly gripped in place.

lt is usual in the construction of bulkheads and piers of this character, namely where double rows of piling are used in horizontal spacedl relation, to secure the front and rear rows of piling together by means of tie-rods la Which are arranged at predetermined spaced relation;"the tie-rods 1st extending through the Waling strip 10 secured to one rovv of piling-the end of the tie-rod being provided with a suitable washer and nut as shown at l5 inFigure l-and through the Waling strip of the other row of piling, with the outer end of the tierod at the last mentioned end being dis posed through a metallic channel bar shown at 16 in Figure 1. As the tie-rods are usually more or less uniformly spaced apart as previously statechf prefer to make my precast Vconcrete units of a size adapted to tit intermediate of the adjacent tie-rods as shown in Figure 2. That is to say, the ends of the respective units or cribs are adapted to come into close relation with the sides of the tie-rods 14. After the units have been placed as described, the erevices or joints 17 intermediate of the longitudinally disposed units or cribs may then be sealed and filled in with cement or concrete in any suitable manner so as to completely seal all crevices I7 and prevent the ingress of Water.

After the cribbing or coping for both the front and rear rows of piling has been positioned as previously described, the space intermediate ofthe fre-nt andi-ear rows is vthen yfilled in with quarry-run stone as indicatedat 19 in Figure 1; the filling 19 being arranged on the foundation and preferably to a point slightly beneath the tops of Vthe cribbing or coping so to permit the placing of a cover of reenforced concrete in the nature of a slab as shown at 20; the' reenforced concrete slab 2O at the same time acting as a reenforcement for the b'ullr-head. The covering or slab is preferably' arranged flush with the tops of the cribs or coping and may be secured thereto by means of reenforcing rods as shown at 21.

In Figures 3 and et', I showa modification of my invention which consists in providing a separate cap for each pile; the cap or coping in this instance being composed of substantially Senn-cylindrical units Q2 which are substantially identical in configu ration. These units 22, like units G, are formed of reenforced concrete, having a kbottom vportion 23 which its outer perimeter vis given a curvature to fit aboutthe pile '9, as clearly shown indotted lines lin Figure i3. Each 'unit or sidey of this crib or coping, like that shown in Figures l and 2, is provided with a reenforcing rod` `rside of the cribor coping as shown at 2a;

these loops or eyes being disposed in a plane above the top of the pile. The two side walls or units are then secured or tied together by a suitable bolt or tie meansindicated at 25, which may be of the same nature as that previously described in connection with the construction shown in Figure l. After the units of the coping shown iny Figure 3 have been put into place about the upper end of the pile, the upper ends or tops ofthe units are preferably .held in proper spaced relation, in preparation for the filler or concrete, in any suitable manner as for example by a strut timber or member indicated in dotted lines at- 26. The coping is then filled in with suitable concrete which is poured so Yas to completely encase the `top Vof the pile and the loops or eyes 24, as well as tie means 25; s'uitable means having been employed toclosey th, crevices intermediate of the two units or halves of the coping while the concrete is being poured.

It is apparent that by the use of this-invention, the tops ofthe piles will be com-- pletely encased in concrete, the outer shell or portion whereof consists of precast con* crete units which, have been previously ma-Y tured before contact with the water where the bulk-head or pier is being constructed and as a result a more desirable and lasting coping is provided than Vis the case where mass concrete is poured so as to be in contact with' the water.

Ars is apparent' from the construction shown and described, the invention provides a continuous beam whereby the respective piles of a row are firmly anchored together and the deteriorating action of the elements on the wooden piles and waling strips, whether wood or metal, is prevented as the upper ends of the piles will be completely encased in concrete, the outer surface or shell whereof consists of a precast and there-Y fore thoroughly matured concrete unit or section, which may be placed yin deep or shallow water; water-tight housing for the piles being thus provided.

I have illustrated the cribs or copingconsistingof units of a certain configuration, but it is apparent that the configuration o1' yingly secured together., 1 v .f.- 2. Ina marine wall construction, a= pair -shapeaswell as other details of construcof complementary precast, reenforced concrete units, each comprising an integral bottoml and vertically disposed side portion,

Vand tie-means intermediate of the opposing surfaces of the side portions of both units, with said tie-means arranged at a point 1n-` termediate of the tops and bottoms of the units and beneath the horizontal axis of said side portions. Y l

In a marine wall construction, a pair of complementary precast reenforcedv con' crete units. each comprising an integral bottom` and side portion,a rodembedded in the bottom and side portion of each unit, said rods being bent intermediate of their ends into loop form, with said bent portions disposed outward through the side portions on the inner sides thereof, and means engaging vwith the bent portions whereby the complementaryunits lare yieldingly held together.

4;; Ina marine wail construction consistfing of piles, a coping for the upper ends of the piles comprising precast complementary reenforced units adapted to be arranged on lation with vopposite sides of the piles, `tie means whereby the units on opposite sides of the piles are yieldingly secured together, the channel formed bythe complementary units being filled in with mass concrete from' bottom'to topso as to embed the upper ends of the piles and the tie means and causing the bottoms of the units'to move toward the piles.

5.` In a marine ,wall construction, a pile cap or coping consisting of a pair of precast, reenforced con-crete units, each having a horizontally disposed bottom forming portion and an upstanding side, the perimeter of the bottom portion being made to conform substantially with the side of the pile, tie-v means whereby the units are secured about the pile, and a concrete filling for the coping whereby the upper end of the pile and the tie-means are embedded.

6. A marine wall construction, consisting of piles arranged in spaced rows, the piles of each row being braced by waling strips and the two rows secured together by tie rods, coping tor the piles comprising precast concrete complementary units each Consisting of a, side wall and bottom formingportion, a unit being arranged on each side ot the piles, tie means secured to the sides oi the two units at a point between the top and bottom ot' the sides, a filling of concrete in said coping', and a concrete slab disposed intermediate oi the coping of both rows or piles.

7. In a marine wall construction consist ing of piles, a coping for the upper ends o the piles, comprising` precast complementary concrete units 'arranged on opposite sides of the piles, each having a horizontally disposed bottom portion and a vertically disposed side port-ion, the bottom portions oi the units being arranged in abuttingrelation with the piles, iteenforeing` rods embedded in the units with intermediate portions ot' said rods 'foi-ined into loop torni and extending through on the inner ysurface of the side wall ot each unit at a point nearer to the bottoni than to the top of the unit, and tie means connected with the loops of both units, the coping being adapted to be filled with mass concrete embedding the tie means and the Upper end of each pile.

JOHN r. BALL. 

